CHAPTER 4

REPRODUCTION &
GROWTH

LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Explain the necessity for organism
to reproduce
2. State types of reproduction
3. Explain the necessity for formation
of gametes
4. Describe formation of sperm in
humans
5. Describe formation of ovum in
humans
6. Compare the formation of sperm &

Necessity for organism to reproduce

1. To increase their number
2. To ensure the continuation of life
3. To ensure the passing down of an
individuals gene to future
generation

Types of reproduction

Necessity for formation of gametes

In humans, the male gametes, called sperm or
spermatozoa, are produced by the
reproductive organs called the testes.
The female gametes or ova are produced by
the reproductive organs known as the ovaries.
The production of these two types of gametes
occurs through the process of meiosis.

 The process of meiosis produces haploid

gametes which are genetically different
from the parental cells.

These variations in the gametes, together

with random fertilisation, produce
variations in the offspring that enable them
to better survive in the ever changing
environment.

 The normal number of

chromosomes in each human

somatic cell is 46. This number is
the diploid number, 2n. However,
sperm and ova have a haploid
number, n, of 23 chromosomes.
During fertilisation, a sperm fuses with

an ovum to form a zygote.

 As a result of the sperm and ovum each having a

haploid number of 23 chromosomes, the zygote

formed will have 46 chromosomes.
The zygote then divides by mitosis to produce

millions of cells in the child, all having 46

chromosomes (Figure 4.3).
Thus, the diploid condition (2n) of human is

maintained from generation to generation. This

characteristic of gamete formation ensures the
survival of the human species on Earth.

The human male reproductive system

Testis of semineferous tubule

Functions of the organs in the male

reproductive system

Sperm formation in humans

Spermatogenesis, the formation of sperm,
occurs in the seminiferous tubules. The
seminiferous tubules are lined by germinal
epithelial cells (Figure 4.5(b)].
These cells divide many times forming cells
known as spermatogonia. Spermatogonia
undergo growth to form primary
spermatocytes [Figure 4.5(b) and (c)].

 These divide by First, meiotic division to

produce haploid secondary
spermatocytes, and then undergo a
second meiotic division to form
spermatids (Figure 4.6).
The spermatids obtain nourishment from
nearby nutritive cells called Sertoli cells,
develop tails and mature into sperms.

A human sperm

The human female reproductive

system

Ovum formation in humans

1. Oogenesis - formation of ovum that
starts in the 2 ovaries of a female foetus
before birth.
2. The germinal epithelial cells near the
surface of
the ovary divide repeatedly by mitosis into
diploid oogonia (singular, oogonium).

3. The oogonia grow to form primary oocytes.

Each oocyte is surrounded by a layer of
follicle cells. The cells provide nutrients to the
developing oocyte and secrete the sex hormone,
oestrogen. The diploid primary oocyte and the
follicle cells form a primary follicle (Figure 4.8).

4. At birth, the female baby has about 1

million
primary oocytes but remain dormant until
puberty. Less than 400 000 follicles mature
while the rest degenerate and die.
5. During foetal stage, all primary oocytes
undergo meiosis but stop at prophase I of
meiosis I.

6. Every month from puberty onwards,

many
primary oocytes become active and
grow but
only one oocyte matures. This
oocyte
completes meiosis I to become a
secondary

7. The secondary oocyte begins meiosis II until

metaphase II. It is lined by layers of follicle
cells and together they are called a
secondary
follicle.
8. The first polar body may complete meiosis II
to form 2 haploid polar bodies.

9. The secondary follicle increases in

size and
matures to form the Graafian
follicle.
10. At about 28 days intervals, the
Graafian
follicle and part of the ovary wall
break up

the ovary is known as ovulation.

12. The

secondary

oocyte

(a.k.a

mature egg@
ovum) enters the Fallopian tube.
If a
sperm penetrates the secondary
oocyte during fertilization,
meiosis II is
completed and 2 haploid cells of

13. The larger cell is the ovum {plural, ova) whereas

the
smaller cell is the second polar body.
14. Thus, a primary oocyte eventually becomes a
haploid
ovum (n) and 3 haploid polar bodies (n). All polar
bodies degenerate and die.
15. The nuclei of the ovum and the sperm fuse to form
a
diploid zygote (2n).

16. Once the Graafian follicle has

released its
oocyte, it develops into a yellowish
mass of
cells called corpus luteum.
17. If pregnancy does not take place,
the corpus
luteum begins to degenerate after

18. If pregnancy occurs, the corpus

luteum does
not degenerate but will continue
to produce
sex hormones (oestrogen and
progesterone).
19. The whole process of development
and

Comparison between the formation of sperm & ovum

Similarities
1. Both are developed from the
germinal epithelial cells (2n) of the
reproductive organ
2. The cells undergo mitosis to produce
many diploid cells ( spermatogonia
& oogonia)
3. Both process undergo meiosis to
produce four haploid daughter cells
or gametes

 Differences:
Spermatogenesis

Differences

Oogenesis

Testes in male
reproductive organ

Place of formation

Ovary in female
reproductive organ

4 sperms are formed,

all the sperms are
active

Gametes produced

1 ovum & 3 polar

bodies are formed,
the polar bodies
degenerates

Sperms are smaller in

size

Size of gametes

Ovum has a bigger

size

Sperms have tails to

enable them to swim

Movement of
gametes

A life long process

which begins after
puberty with sperms
formed continuosly

The movement of the

ovum is facilitated by
the cilia of the
Fallopian tube

Formation of gametes Process begin at the

stage of foetus and
stops at menopause.
Formation of ovum
occurs once in every

Divide to
Germinal
Divide to
produce
epithelium cells poduce
spermatogoniu
oogonium;
m;
oogonium
Spermatogoniu
develop into
m develop into
primary
primary
oocytes
spermatocytes
After meiosis I, product
After meiosis I,
2 secondary
one secondary
spermatocytes
oocyte and one
are formed
polar body is
formed